Outdoor adventures: Weighing in on gun rights

If I have learned anything about saying or writing anything publicly over the years, it is that when you say anything about guns, someone is waiting to jump out of the weeds and oppose your opinion.

I have mentioned the use of guns here and there in my column, and someone has always taken the time to point out to me that I could be fueling the antis’ fire.

For instance, when I referred to the number of opportunites one gets to shoot deer, I referred to it as “slaughter.” I think most realized I meant slaughter as in I believe we are allowed to harvest too many deer, not that we shouldn’t be able to gun hunt.

That’s just one example, but there are more. I thought maybe this would be the appropriate time to let you readers know where I stand on this issue.

I could just say that Bob Costas is a complete idiot, and you would probably get the point. I love America, and I believe in our constitutional rights: our right to bear arms, our right to free speech and my right to get up tomorrow and go fishing.

I am fully aware of the blood that has been shed over the decades to protect my rights. I am fully aware of the millions of veterans who have been shunned by other American citizens and politicians, and it is a shame that these people are allowed to call themselves “Americans.”

I also know that there are too many things to say on this subject to fit into 10 full newspapers, so I will just end with that.

Just in case you haven’t noticed, there seems to be a lack of snow in the area. This lack of moisture thing is just getting way out of hand. In fact, we are already in the top six latest dates without a measurable snowfall.

The latest we have ever had our first measurable snow was Jan. 7, 1940. Now that’s a few years back, ain’t it?

No. 2 on the list was all the way back to 1913. when it didn’t snow until Jan. 4. Let’s hope we don’t break those records. We really need that snowpack to help our water levels, come spring. Plus, I wanna do a little deer hunting in the fluffy stuff, too.

Hey, you haven’t put that boat away yet have you? Well shame on you, if you have. The winter fishing season is just getting started.

The fish are biting, and the fall skies are beautiful. The air is crisp and clean. Water temperatures are in the low-30s now, and fish are starting to school hard. This means you might not find them everywhere, but when you find them? Look out.

Now, this has been a very interesting week for me. Let’s see, I met a beautiful little chocolate lab named Bailey, who was nice enough to round up a few pheasants for me.

I had an awesome time and, in next week’s column, I’ll tell you a surefire way to have a fun, safe, productive hunt, too. I guarantee it.